Head of Operations and Technology

PERMANENT| 140,000.00PER ANNUMRECRUITER: | Charlie Watson Head of Operations and Technology (SMF24)City of LondonPermanentUp to 140,000cer Financial are working alongside an international bank, who are based in the City of London. They are seeking a Head of Operations who also has technical experience and holds SMF24, to work with them on a permanent basis.The role:Lead strategic planning and delivery of operations, systems, outsourcing, and business continuityDevelop and implement transformation programmes aligned with business needsDesign and execute change strategies and implementation plansManage third-party vendors to improve systems, processes, and reporting (e.g. dashboards)Drive operational efficiency and continuous improvement across the businessRepresent Operations at executive level and support decision-making with specialist insightTranslate strategic objectives into actionable business plans with measurable outcomesEnsure delivery of business change projects in line with executive directionAllocate and manage resources (budget, headcount) effectively within approved limitsContribute to business strategy through operational assessment and improvement initiativesOversee departmental budgets, approvals, and capital expenditure decisionsAnalyse and optimise processes, systems, and overall operational effectivenessMonitor performance against plans, identify gaps, and implement corrective actionsBenchmark productivity and introduce measures to enhance performanceBuild and manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholdersMaintain an efficient operating model and drive digital transformationAct as Data Protection Officer (DPO) and ensure regulatory complianceParticipate in internal and external committees (e.g. ExCo, ALCO, Risk)Ensure effective risk management across operationsSet strategic direction and performance expectations for teamsLead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams and direct reportsOversee capacity and project planning to meet resource requirementsMonitor service quality and adherence to governance standardsIdentify training needs and support ongoing team developmentMaintain succession planning for leadership rolesHandle escalations, grievances, and performance management processesCommit to ongoing personal development and effectivenessThe candidate will have:Must have banking operations experience - payments, settlements, operational resilience.Must have IT leadership experience: Tech/system upgrades, infrastructure, etc.Must have held SMF24.Strong FCA/PRA regulatory and compliance expertiseSolid understanding of banking operations in highly regulated environments